Brookfield police shooting, Waukesha shots-fired incidents connected

Investigators say there’s a link between a shoot-out with police in Brookfield and a series of drive-bys in Waukesha.

Brookfield police say when they first responded to a crash late Saturday night, Jan. 31, no one knew the driver was linked to a series of seemingly random drive-by shootings throughout the county.

Brookfield police shooting

What we know:

The wreckage left behind from a crash Saturday on Barker Road in Brookfield also helped solve another crime.

"Upon their arrival, they received information that a suspect had fled from the scene on foot," said Brookfield Police Chief Chris Garcia.

Related

Brookfield police shooting; suspect shot, injured after firing at officers

A Brookfield police officer shot and injured a person after that person initially fired at officers late Saturday night, Jan. 31.

He says the 31-year-old driver shot at his officers, and an officer fired back, hitting the suspect.

"He’s being treated at an area hospital. The last information I had on his condition was that he was in stable but critical condition," added Chief Garcia.

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Connection established

Big picture view:

But when detectives started to look at the crashed vehicle and shell casings left in the area, they soon realized a connection to a separate crime.

"The suspect in their investigation was the same individual previously identified as a person of interest in our investigation," said Captain Joe Hendricks, Waukesha Criminal Investigations Division Commander.

Waukesha police say the 31-year-old is the same person who shot at three homes in the City and Village of Waukesha on Jan. 24.

Related

Shots fired at Waukesha, New Berlin homes; $1,000 reward for info

Riddled with bullet holes…that's the case for several homes in Waukesha County after a string of shots-fired incidents this past weekend in New Berlin and in Waukesha.

Investigators say the car and the gun match to the Brookfield suspect.

They’re still looking into a possible connection to a home shot at in New Berlin.

"At this time, we don’t know the motive – we still have to do more investigation on that. We don’t know the why at this time," said Waukesha Police Captain Dan Baumann.

Police stress that these communities are safe and that these crimes are rare.

No officers or homeowners were hurt.

The suspect’s name will be released when they are criminally charged.

Police say he is not a suspect in the apartment shooting near Cutler Park in Waukesha.

The Source: FOX6 attended the media briefing and has previously reported on the shots-fired incidents in Waukesha County and the Brookfield police officer-involved shooting.

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